Addiction Therapists in Mill Bay, BC.

In my view, most addiction is a response to trauma, alienation or absence of relationship ties - and often both. There is a robust correlation in the scientific literature between trauma and addiction. Trauma can lead to a dysregulated stress system, which may increase vulnerability to addictive behaviors. Individuals with trauma histories may be more vulnerable to addiction as a means of regulating their mood, quieting intrusive thoughts. A trauma-informed perspective addresses both the experience of trauma and addictive behaviors people may adopt.

Dr. Sloat treats addiction using non-12 Step methods (including CBT), and while she welcomes people struggling with any stage of addiction, she specializes in working with those who are post-rehabilitation. It is important to understand why one becomes addicted in the first place, and it's important to establish new and healthy patterns that edge out the addictive ones such that relapse is less likely. During treatment Dr. Sloat touches upon the actual addictions, but mostly she focuses on the underlying reasons and factors that perpetuate them. If left untreated, addiction becomes "hard-wired" in, and Dr. Sloat helps people "re-wire" their lives.

Addiction comes in many forms and if left untreated can come to control us. Urges become overwhelming as we feel there is little we can do to resist repeating the same behaviour over and over again. Disrupting the cycle is challenging and evidence suggests it's crucial to have support. I take a wholistic approach, including addressing the biological underpinnings, the psychological drive to repeat, and the social causes of addiction. I incorporate aspects of SMART recovery, and am familiar with the 12 steps approach. No one road to recovery is right for everybody. Without judgement, I will help you find the way fits for you, whether it be a reduction approach or abstinence.

I provide support for those considering or determined to reduce or eliminate substances, problem gambling, or other compulsion. Whether the goal is cutting out the addictive behaviour or minimizing its impact, I work through motivational interviewing to help people access addiction treatment if needed. If treatment is not needed, I target the underlying problem such as anxiety, depression, or family conflict. So if you have a family member who requires assessment and direction, or you yourself need to know that you addiction is in good hands while you focus on another problem, I can help.

I see people who want to stop or slow down their porn use. Porn is so easy to find these days, and many people have been exposed to graphic images at an early age. Some people use porn as a routine shortcut to excitement. But it can backfire: they can start having trouble getting excited without porn. Or they really don’t want anyone to find out. Porn is the quick solution that doesn’t solve that much, and sometimes it creates longer term problems. Relationships can suffer, and so can your self-respect. Sometimes porn use hides other trouble in your life. Together we identify what is going on and what you can do to change – so you can connect better with others and with yourself.

Often in life, stress, responsibility and unhappiness can lead to managing/medicating with a variety of substances; marijuana, alcohol, gambling, sex, internet, drugs, ect. This can lead to an unbalance in the usage of these substances, create a significant strain and negative affect on relationships, family, work and one self. We will work to uncover the motivating force that has driven to substance abuse and help to regain control. Through this work we will strive to regain a healthy and balanced life, free of addiction or dependency.

Gravitate Counselling Inc.'s counsellors help clients struggling with addiction to process past trauma that may be contributing to their struggles, explore their readiness for change, identify triggers and higher risk situations, develop skills to reduce or eliminate harmful substances or behaviours in their life, build a support network to help sustain positive change, and make a plan that supports lasting change. Counselling for addiction can also focus on identifying and addressing damage to other areas of life due to the addiction, including relationships, finances, employment, health, and more.

The question is not "why the addiction but why the pain" - Gabor Mate. Addiction is rooted in human suffering and complex social problems. Drawing on the work of Gabor Mate, Narrative Therapy, Systemic Family Therapy, and Response-Based practice, I will begin to address the pain and suffering experienced by individuals and families. We will also exploring the social context the contributes to an addiction culture. One of the goals is to start to separate the person from the addiction. Each individual is so much more than the addiction they experience.

The common cause of most addiction is shame- based thinking and behaviour. Once we can identify and understand the source of our cravings or compulsions, then we can work to change this into more positive choices. In this work I challlenge clients to examine their own thinking and needs that underlie their addictive process. Then they can seek to fulfill these needs in more productive ways.

Understanding what our addiction means, how it takes control over our behaviour and choices in life is an early step in recovery. You may be filled with pain and self-hatred, wanting escape, and that drives us into addiction. The need for relief, however brief, destroys lives. Together we can understand and heal your trauma. You have to want change more than anything, but you can do it. Cognitive Processing Therapy can help you heal from your trauma and get on the sober path.

Many approaches to addiction emphasize willpower and deprivation, but this only works temporarily. Alcohol, substances, or other addictive behaviours like gambling and gaming offer short-term relief of underlying issues at a long-term cost to one's relationships and health. As an addiction counsellor, I can help you resolve underlying issues, regain control, and build a sense of meaning and purpose, so you can start living the life you want. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to addiction recovery. I meet each client where they are at, tailoring my approach to each person's unique needs. Send me a message and we can connect for a quick call to discuss next steps.

Substance and behavioral addictions are widely misunderstood, and as a result, those that experience addictions can be unjustly pathologized and even criminalized. The term “addiction” stands for diverse, multi-faceted, socio-cultural, biological, and psychological phenomena. The idea that addiction is a brain disease is an ideological narrative, not a fact. I offer non-judgmental and non-coercive counselling to support an individual’s growth and future pursuits. I hold a deep empathy for your life experience, choices, and lack of choices. I will coach you to tap into your inner resources, resilience, and “brilliant sanity.” I am an advocate for decriminalization and harm reduction policies.

There are many kinds of addictions including substance, sexual, internet, porn, shopping, shoplifting, some phobias and gambling. Specialized addictions counseling and medical intervention are advised where appropriate. Janice Graham will support you by helping you understand why you turn to addictive behaviours. You will identify the needs you are trying to meet and plan ways to resolve these needs and meet them in ways that do not destroy yourself and your relationships or involve you with the law. The place of 12 step programs and other support groups will be reviewed. My treatment approach is compassionate and accepting.

Addictions and all compulsive behaviours can take over our lives and waste our money, damage our relationships and wreck our health and maybe even get us in jail. There are many kinds of addictions, gambling, substance, sexual, some phobias, porn, internet, cutting and many more. Specialized addictions counseling or medical care is advised when appropriate. Supportive, non judgemental, compassionate counseling with Dr. Graham will help you get insight into why you turn to harmful addictive habits. You will learn to identify the needs you are trying to meet and learn ways to resolve these needs with more healthy behaviours. Twelve step programs and other support groups may be discussed.

I am guided by your willingness to make a change, your believe in your ability to make that change, and the priority that making this change has in your life. An addiction has usually such a strong grip on a person, who is often also alone and has tried many times before; that extraordinary patience, perseverance, and continued refocusing is needed. At the same time, the many people that succeed every day after having tried many times, are proof that it can be done. My focus is to support your willingness, ability, and priority within a structured plan of carefully chosen activities that are realistic and meaningful.

Addictions can appear in many forms including substance addictions, internet addiction, sex addiction, gambling addiction, shopping addiction, pornography, social media, excessive exercise, food, etc. Strong cravings with a loss of control can lead people to become addicted in spite of possible dire consequences. Counselling is one of several possible treatments available for addictions. Individual, group and family therapies have been found to be helpful in order to inform a client regarding the harmful effects the addiction may have on themselves, their friends, family and society. Promoting physical, emotional and spiritual well being is often critical for the rehabilitation process.

There are many forms of addiction, usually defined as the need to perform certain behaviours, even at the cost to relationships, finances and quality of life. These can be compulsive need to drink, take substances, sexual behaviours, violent behaviours, shopping, computer usage etc. I usually work with cognitive therapy to find the underlying need that the addiction is satisfying, look at the belief systems that keep the behaviour going, and work to replace the behaviour with new and healthier behaviours.

Addictions are habits you want to break, and you cannot succeed unless you are wholly aligned with this intention. We have many people inside us, and we are typically unaware and out of contact with our feelings. The difficulty in breaking habits is achieving a commitment in yourself, and dispelling further desires, needs, and yearnings. That part of you who is reasonable, reliable, and committed is irrelevant if they have no authority over the parts of you who are not. Changing a habit is all about addressing the need and the needy part of you. That part must be brought on-board through body work, hypnosis, expanded awareness, or physical change. Once you do that, habits change quickly.

I am honoured that you are interested in my services and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I have been described as slightly non-conventional in the counselling world, which suits me perfectly, and also tends to suit youth who are trying to stand up to the force of the problems in their life. I am very comfortable working with this population, and I feel fortunate that I can connect with teens the way I do, conventionally or in a way that makes sense to them.

I have experience and training in substance and process (behavioural) addiction. I draw on EMDR to help reduce the urges that result from specific triggers related to the addition. I also use a the psychotherapy process to help clients work through the painful experiences that resulted in addictions, work at repairing relationships and moving forward.

Addictions are complicated and complex. They involve so many aspects of our live, our psyche and our soul. They can take the form of substances, behaviours or even ways of thinking and beliefs. From my perspective, they involve an inability to be in the moment, to be present, as we are, in all of our discomfort. Our work on addictions will likewise be complex and involve every aspect of your experience. We will find ways to mitigate the effects i.e. harm reduction. We will also try to get underneath what might have caused the addiction originally. We will work toward a larger, more expanded, more free perspective of seeing yourself.

“It was a long and heavy day and I just need to break the edge.” “I communicate better after few drinks” “I can’t fall asleep if I don’t have my…” When a substance becomes a “priority”, or becomes overused, it begins to creep into and destroy an individual’s health, family, relationship and even work. The question becomes "Do I have control over it or does it have control over me?". Often substances are used as coping mechanism without realizing that it often creates even more anxiety and depression, leaving a person feeling more stress and low down the road. Feeling anxious without a "quick fix" or a “temporary Band-Aid” is a strong indicator that a person is or has lost control with the desired substance. In counselling, we work to support...(view profile to read more)